Slade's old boy property network

Monday 7 February 2011 12:06 BST

Harry Potter actress Emma Watson

Who is the best-connected person in London property? One candidate would have to be Mike Slade.

The chief executive of Helical Bar appears to know absolutely everyone in the business, and everyone knows Mike. He's charming and gregarious, and extremely good at his job. He also works hard at developing his contacts. Just how so is revealed in Property Week, which carries an article on public school old boys' property clubs. These are networking groups for former pupils working in the industry. Harrow, Radley, Charterhouse, Cranleigh they all have them.

Slade, however, has founded two, even though he only went to one school. Property Week reports that he started the property club at Sherborne, his alma mater, and at Wellington College where his sons Max and Hugh studied.

On alternating years, Slade, a keen yachtsman, organises events at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge for the Sherborne and Wellington clubs. Not content with creating two, he was also instrumental in the formation of another two, persuading fellow Helical Bar directors Jack Pitman to organise a similar society for Old Etonians and Gerald Kaye to do the same for those who attended Radley.

Which financial services mega-boss's modus operandi is to lure vivacious young women to his swish London pad while his wife's away? While they drool over his art collection, this charmer likes to pounce

Royal Bank of Scotland has a "threat level" listed on a board in the entrance of its Bishopsgate HQ. Bankers working there said they don't know if it lists the international terror risk, or how much they are hated by the rest of the country.

Pyramid of travel woes in Egypt

Travel firm Thomson asked British holidaymakers stranded in Egypt to buy tickets for a flight to London in cash. Thomson said cash was needed because the systems were down and card payments would not work. Unfortunately for travellers desperate to get home, Egyptian cash machines weren't working either, which meant those without enough for an air fare were left behind. Oh dear.

It's heartening to know that while protesters were marching through Cairo, the central bank's monetary policy committee was carrying out the job of rate-setting with a sang-froid that will surely impress their counterparts in Threadneedle Street. Minutes of the January meeting said inflation pressures "remain contained" but the committee will "continue to closely monitor all economic developments". Such as watching a revolution out of the window?

Good news for gold-diggers of both sexes. City Spy hears of plans to launch a discreet dating service exclusively for those with a Belgravia address. Ladies who lunch and wealthy banking dogs are abuzz. Time to check those pre-nups.

Fangs very much, Hermione

An unexpected spin-off of the Harry Potter Midas effect has been to the benefit of London dentistry. The word has got out, in internet gossip and beyond, that Neil Counihan of Elleven Orthodontics in Devonshire Place is responsible for having ensured the young Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, had her teeth in such smiley shape.

With the Harry Potter films about to get a special Bafta award, the teeth-chattering on the web has taken off again. Counihan's near-invisible teeth braces, pioneered by him after his training in the US, has created the most unusual of phenomena: a queue to the dentist's waiting room.

This is not just children guided by pushy mothers but also middle-aged bankers who suddenly want some sparkle back in their smile, but do not want to look like Jaws in the process.

Rock climber makes you a retail genius - apparently...

Matt Brittin, Google's UK chief, has been hailed "as the most influential person in the digital world". Hmmm. The accolade comes from Wired UK magazine. That would suggest, surely, that he ought to be called "the most influential person in digital UK" - the world seems to be putting it a bit strong. Anyway, Brittin is clearly hot property and Sainsbury's is rightfully chuffed at having persuaded him to join its board. He has been awarded with a profile in Retail Week, which says that Brittin, who was a champion rower, "also enjoys rock climbing with his two children, believes agility is a crucial business attribute and he has demonstrated that agility in his career".

Eh? Ignoring the tortuous link - rock climbing and agility (genius) - does he really scale sheer faces with his two children? The mind boggles. He's 42, and they're young kids. Does their mother stand at the bottom and watch? Is this the Google way - out with the Saturday morning ballet and kick around in the park, and in with the rock climbing with Dad?

A few generous souls gave Gap the benefit of the doubt during its disastrous rebranding last year. They wondered if the short-lived move to drop the US clothing firm's famous white-on-blue logo in favour of a washed-out replacement might have been a marketing stunt to get attention for the brand. But any doubts look to have been laid to rest: Gap has just ditched its New York advertising agency, Laird + Partners. In comes a new agency, Ogilvy & Mather, part of WPP, and Gap has also hired a new chief marketing officer from O&M.